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Kathleen Armstrong watched the smoke rise over Mariposa, California, with dread. It was the Fourth of July, and wildfires were again threatening the town near Yosemite. Memories of the destructive 2022 Oak fire spurred her to evacuate quickly, but this recent scare left her and her neighbours questioning the safety of the narrow escape routes they rely on.

Adding to their worries, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) plans to open a new camping and glamping site nearby, potentially bringing up to a thousand visitors. Locals fear this influx would worsen evacuation challenges, strain resources, and stress ecosystems already battered by drought, heatwaves, fires, and floods due to climate change.

Mariposa isn’t alone. Communities near Mammoth Lakes, Zion National Park, and other natural areas across the U.S. are also grappling with the impacts of increased tourism. While outdoor recreation brings $1.1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, the environmental toll on fragile regions like Mariposa is leaving residents torn between economic gains and safeguarding their homes and natural surroundings. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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A record 512 billion work hours were lost globally in 2023 due to heat exposure risks, according to a new report from the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. The report notes that agricultural workers in low-income countries bore the brunt of these losses, costing some nations around 8% of their GDP.

This ninth annual report highlights essential climate and health indicators, including heat-related mortality, air pollution exposure, and national adaptation measures. Although deaths from fossil fuel-derived air pollution dropped by 7% between 2016 and 2021—mainly due to coal phase-outs in wealthier countries—many low-income nations still rely heavily on biomass and other polluting fuels. This reliance disproportionately affects women and children, who are often responsible for sourcing and burning these fuels, according to lead author Dr Marina Romanello.

The authors criticize governments and fossil fuel companies for investing in oil and gas projects that risk surpassing global warming thresholds. The report reveals that fossil fuel subsidies exceeded health spending in over 20 countries in 2022, raising concern about priorities that, Romanello warns, jeopardize the health and survival of people worldwide. Read More

News Credit: Carbon Brief

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Rescue operations are intensifying in Spain as emergency teams search for victims of catastrophic floods, raising questions about how a nation renowned for its infrastructure struggled to respond to such an extreme storm. Torrential rains at the start of the week triggered flash floods that have left at least 95 people dead, marking Spain’s deadliest flood disaster since 1973.

To date, the exact number of missing remains unclear. The floods, which turned streets into rivers and swept away vehicles, left more than 1,200 people stranded on highways among about 5,000 abandoned cars. Thousands remain without electricity or phone service. Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced that military rescue teams, equipped with sniffer dogs and mobile morgues, would begin combing through debris in the worst-hit areas.

More rain is forecast in the hardest-hit eastern Valencia region, prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to urge residents to stay indoors. “The storm continues,” he warned, emphasizing the need to prioritize life-saving measures. He further reassured the public that the government is doing everything possible to locate those still missing, pledging support by land, sea, and air for as long as necessary.

However, in the middle of all of the reassurances, the families are seeking information about missing loved ones. Leonardo Enrique, speaking to RTVE, described the last message he received from his son, a delivery driver, saying it was raining heavily near the industrial town of Riba-roja. Families across Spain are waiting anxiously as rescue teams race against time to bring answers and, hopefully, reunite them with loved ones. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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BeZero Carbon has launched the BeZero Carbon Portfolio Rating, the first-ever framework to assess carbon credit portfolios. It measures the likelihood of achieving one tonne of CO₂e reduction or removal per credit using an eight-point scale, from ‘AAA’ (highest) to ‘D’ (lowest).

The framework excludes portfolios with ‘C’ and ‘D’ ratings or significant additionality risks to ensure higher risk management standards. By enabling diversified, risk-adjusted claims, it aims to enhance confidence in carbon credits and support credible net-zero strategies.

This innovation could drive broader adoption of carbon portfolios, boosting quality investments in the carbon market. BeZero currently offers ratings for over 460 global carbon projects on its platform. Read More

News Credit: Carbon Herald

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the concentration of planet-heating pollutants reached record highs in 2023. Carbon dioxide levels rose to 420 ppm—51% higher than pre-industrial levels—driven by persistent fossil fuel burning, wildfires, and reduced carbon absorption by trees. Methane and nitrous oxide levels also surged, rising to 1,934 ppb and 336.9 ppb, respectively.

The WMO warns that we are “off track” to meet the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting warming to 1.5°C. Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized that every ppm rise has real impacts, from stronger wildfires to warmer oceans, potentially triggering climate feedback loops.

Though emissions growth has slightly slowed, atmospheric concentrations continue to climb, echoing conditions from millions of years ago when temperatures were 2-3°C higher and sea levels were 10-20 meters above today’s levels. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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A new study warns that the warming climate in polar regions could significantly disrupt global ocean circulation. Research led by Mohamed Ezat from the iC3 Polar Research Hub reveals that past increases in freshwater from melting Arctic sea ice likely caused significant cooling across northern Europe by altering ocean circulation. With the Arctic projected to experience ice-free summers by 2050, the findings highlight the fragility of the Earth’s climate system.

The Nordic Seas, crucial for oceanic heat transport, have a far-reaching impact on weather patterns. This discovery, published in Nature Communications, echoes recent concerns from scientists that climate change poses a severe risk of altering Atlantic ocean circulation, potentially causing irreversible damage. Read More

News Credit: Phys.org

Picture Credit: Karine Nigar Aarskog / UiT The Arctic University of Norway

A new Oxfam report reveals that the carbon emissions of the world’s richest 1% are worsening hunger, poverty, and excess deaths. Driven by luxury yachts, private jets, and investments in polluting industries, their consumption also makes it harder to limit global warming to 1.5°C. If everyone emitted CO₂ like the average billionaire, the remaining carbon budget would be exhausted in under two days.

Oxfam’s analysis calls for taxing the super-rich to reduce excessive consumption, fund clean energy transitions, and support those most affected by climate change. The report also notes that the 50 wealthiest billionaires emit more carbon in three hours than the average Briton does in a lifetime, with their private jet flights and yachts releasing emissions equivalent to centuries of an average person’s carbon footprint. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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Humanity has disrupted the global water cycle for the first time in history, fueling a water crisis that threatens economies, food production, and livelihoods, according to a report by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. Decades of poor land use and water mismanagement, combined with human-driven climate change, have put unprecedented stress on the water cycle.

The water cycle, which moves water around Earth through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, is now off balance. Nearly 3 billion people face water scarcity, crops are failing, and cities are sinking as groundwater levels drop. Without urgent action, the crisis could endanger more than 50% of global food production and reduce countries’ GDPs by 8% by 2050, with the poorest nations facing even more significant losses.

The report highlights the overlooked importance of “green water”—moisture in soils and plants—alongside “blue water” in lakes, rivers, and aquifers. Disruptions to the water cycle are closely linked to climate change, as deforestation and wetland destruction reduce carbon sinks, further accelerating global warming and drying out landscapes. The report emphasizes that people need about 4,000 litres of water per day for a dignified life, far more than what most regions can provide from local sources. Read More

News Credit: CNN

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With its impressive size, striking plumage, and rowdy displays, spotting a capercaillie is a dream come true for many bird enthusiasts. However, only about 530 of these large woodland grouse remain in the wild in Scotland, mainly in the Cairngorms National Park.

Conservationists are caught between raising awareness of the species’ perilous state and discouraging people from seeking them out. Despite it being illegal to disturb capercaillies during their breeding season (March to August), the allure of a prestigious sighting or photograph has led many to ignore these regulations.

In 2022, 17 people were found at or near the “lek”—the area where male birds gather to compete for female attention—according to Carolyn Robertson, project manager of the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. That same year, a birdwatcher was caught on camera disturbing six capercaillies, causing them to flee the breeding site. Though the individual was arrested, he was only given a verbal warning, by which time the damage was likely already done.

Even brief disturbances can determine whether or not the birds breed, explains Robertson. Such disruptions raise stress levels, and there’s a high chance that the capercaillie didn’t return to the lek that morning or even for days, affecting their chances of successful breeding. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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The illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree brought an outpouring of grief, anger, and distress, but now, a year later, its custodians hope to transform this tragic loss into a beacon of hope.

The National Trust and Northumberland National Park have launched a new initiative, inviting the public to apply for one of 49 saplings grown from the iconic tree. These young trees will be planted in publicly accessible spaces across the UK that hold special meaning for individuals and communities, fostering connections and commemorating the legacy of the Sycamore Gap.

Henshaw Primary School, the nearest to the original tree’s location, will receive one of the saplings, as will each of the UK’s 15 national parks, ensuring they are placed in some of the country’s most beautiful and cherished landscapes. Read More:https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/27/trees-of-hope-sycamore-ga

News Credit: Guardian

Image Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA